View source for Paktia Province

{{Short description|Province of Afghanistan}}
{{Distinguish|Paktika Province|Loya Paktia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Paktia
| native_name = {{nq|پکتیا}}
| native_name_lang = ps and dr
| settlement_type = [[Provinces of Afghanistan|Province]]
| image_skyline = Gardez paktya.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Aerial view of a [[Fortification|fort]] in [[Gardez]], the capital of Paktia province
| image_flag = 
| flag_alt =
| image_seal = 
| seal_alt =
| image_shield = 
| shield_alt =
| nickname =
| motto =
| image_map = Paktia in Afghanistan.svg
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Map of Afghanistan with Paktia highlighted
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = 
| coor_pinpoint = Capital
| coordinates_footnotes =
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Afghanistan}}
| established_title =
| established_date = 
| founder =
| seat_type = Capital
| seat = [[Gardez, Afghanistan|Gardez]]
| government_footnotes =
| leader_party =
| leader_title = [[List of governors of Paktia|Governor]]
| leader_name = [[Muhammad Ali Jan Ahmad]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://azamnews.com/?p=108148|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107145754/http://azamnews.com/?p=108148|url-status=usurped|archive-date=7 November 2021|title = د نږدې شلو ولایاتو لپاره نوي والیان او امنیې قوماندانان وټاکل شول|date = 7 November 2021}}</ref>
| leader_title1 = Deputy Governor
| leader_name1 = [[Sheikh Aziz-ur-Rehman Mansoor]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alemarah.af/%D8%AF-%D9%BE%DA%A9%D8%AA%DB%8C%D8%A7-%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%AF-%D9%BC%D9%88%D9%84%D9%88-%D9%88%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%88-%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A4%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%88/|title=د پکتیا ولایت د ټولو ولسوالیو د مسؤلینو او امنیه قوماندانانو ګډه غونډه جوړه شوه – د افغانستان اسلامي امارت|date=16 November 2021|access-date=10 January 2022|archive-date=22 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022002202/https://www.alemarah.af/%D8%AF-%D9%BE%DA%A9%D8%AA%DB%8C%D8%A7-%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%AF-%D9%BC%D9%88%D9%84%D9%88-%D9%88%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%88-%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A4%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%88/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| unit_pref = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 5583
| area_land_km2 =
| area_water_km2 =
| area_water_percent =
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| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_footnotes =<ref name=nsia/>
| population_total = 622831
| population_as_of = 2021
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = 
| population_note = 
| blank_name_sec1 = [[Languages of Afghanistan|Main languages]]
| blank_info_sec1 = [[Pashto language|Pashto]]
| timezone1 = Afghanistan Time
| utc_offset1 = +4:30
| timezone1_DST =
| utc_offset1_DST =
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 22xx
| area_code_type =
| area_code = 
| iso_code = AF-PIA
| website = 
| footnotes = 
}}
{{copyedit|date=January 2025}}

'''Paktia''' ([[Pashto]],{{efn|{{IPA|ps|pak.t̪i'jɑ}}}} [[Dari]]:{{efn|{{IPA|prs|pʰäk.t̪ʰiː.jɑ́ː}}}} پکتیا) is one of the 34 [[provinces of Afghanistan]], located in the east of the country. Forming part of the larger [[Loya Paktia]] region, Paktia Province is divided into 15 districts and has a population of roughly 623,000,<ref name=nsia/> which is mostly a tribal society living in rural areas. [[Pashtuns]] make up the majority of the population and a small percentage include [[Tajik people|Tajiks]].<ref name="understandingwar"/> [[Gardez]] is the provincial capital. The traditional food in Paktia is known as (dandakai) which is made from rice and mung bean or green gram.

It's also significant for being the area where [[Operation Magistral]] by The Soviet Union took place. Late Nov, of 1987, to Jan, of 1988 is then it took place, when Soviet Forces retreated.<ref>{{cite book |last=Urban |first=Mark |author-link= Mark Urban |title=War in Afghanistan |year=1990 |publisher=Palgrave MacMillan |location=London |isbn=0-333-51477-7|pages=231–33}}</ref>

In 2021, the [[Taliban]] gained control of the province during the [[2021 Taliban offensive]].

==History==
{{History of Afghanistan}}
{{Further|History of Afghanistan}}
Paktia (pashto پکتیا - Paktya) is the land of [[Pakhtas|pakthas]] or pakth (pashto - پکهت), According to Mandala 7 of the [[Rigveda]] (RV 7.18.7), "Together came the Pakthas (44?4), the Bhalanas, the Alinas, the Sivas, the Visanins. Yet to the Trtsus came the Arya's Comrade, through love of spoil and heroes' war, to lead them".

The [[Pakhtas|Pakthas]] were one of the tribes that fought against Sudas in the Dasarajna the [[Battle of the Ten Kings]] (dasarajna). The battle of the 10 Kings took place before [[Mahabharata|Mahabharat]], so at least around 5000 BC.

Pakthas are an ancient people that find reference in [[Sanskrit]] and allegedly in [[Greeks|Greek]] sources as a people living in the region which includes south-eastern province ([[Loya Paktia]]) in [[Afghanistan]] and northern parts of [[Pakistan]]. The terms Pashtun and Pashto have only been in use for the past 500 years. Prior to that Pashtuns were the Pakhtas of Rig Veda and Paktuans of [[Herodotus]].

the word "-ia" is a [[Latin ending]] (-ia in Ancient Greek) used to form abstract nouns. In this case, the "abstract" noun referred to a nation, that is, a collection of people and the locations where they lived.

For example, the land of the ''Germani'' was Germania. so the word "ia" is a Greek word which means "land of" as Armenia, Syria, Australia.

India was known as "Sapt-Sindhu" - which means seven rivers in Sanskrit-[[Indus Valley Civilisation|Indus]] (known as Sindhu then), The name of India is a corruption of the word [[Sindhu]].

[[Persians]] uttered 's' as 'h' and called this land Hindu. Greeks pronounced this name as Indus and The [[Roman people|Romans]] picked up the name and the "land of Indus" came to be known as "India". they were Indus and as we know the word "ia" mean "the land of" so it becomes India the land of Indus. Now we know that they did the same thing with pakthus

Pakthus pakt/pakth-ia (la=land of) = paktia, The land of pakthus.

[[Pactyans|Pactyan]] (pactian)

These Pactyans lived on the eastern frontier of the Achaemenid [[Arachosia]] Satrapy as early as the 1st millennium BCE.

[[Herodotus]] - An ancient Greek historian, wrote a book 2500 years ago in 500BC. He used the word Pactyans (pashto-پاکتیان) for Pashtuns who lived in Loy Paktia (which includes modern Afghanistan and Pakhtunkhwa regions).

-Herodotus, The Histories, Book III, Chapter 102,

Section 1

Herodotus also mentions a tribe of known as Aparytai ('AntapÚtal). Thomas Holdich has linked them with the [[Afridi|Afridi tribe]].

-Herodotus, The Histories, Book III, Chapter 91,

Section 4

So what does the word "pactyan" mean !?

to understand what does it mean, we have to do the same thing that we did before. If we translate pactyan or pactian into pashto we will get the word "پکتیاوال" which we use it for a person from [[Loya Paktia|Loya patkia]].

the word "ian" denotes the people belongs to any country or land.

So pashtuns are pactyan, pactyans are pakthas and pakth is one the oldest [[Aryan]] tribe. And their land is Loya paktia

Paktia used to be a unified province with [[Khost Province|Khost]] and [[Paktika Province|Paktika]] until Khost became a separate province in 1985.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/20090224-HQN-as-autonomous-T-entity.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511003729/https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/20090224-HQN-as-autonomous-T-entity.pdf|archive-date=11 May 2021|title=Loya Paktia's Insurgency: The Haqqani Network as an Autonomous Entity|author=Thomas Ruttig|date=2009|accessdate=11 August 2021|url-status=dead}}</ref> These three provinces are now referred to as ''Loya Paktia'', meaning "Greater Paktia". Paktia came to prominence during the 1980s, when a significant portion of Afghanistan's leadership originated from the province. Some of the more notable leaders include [[Najibullah Ahmadzai]] (a former [[President of Afghanistan]]), [[Mohammad Aslam Watanjar]], [[Shahnawaz Tanai]], and [[Sayed Muhammad Gulabzoi]].

===Soviet–Afghan War (1988)===
Between 7 and 8 January 1988, in Paktia Province, near the Pakistani–Afghan border, the [[Battle for Hill 3234]] took place, which was a successful defensive action fought by the 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment, 39 Soviet Airborne Troops, in [[Soviet–Afghan War|Soviet occupied Afghanistan]] against a force of up to 200 to 250 Mujahideen rebels.

Soviet commanders wanted to secure the entire section of the road from Gardez to Khost.

One of the most important points was the nameless hill designated [[Battle for Hill 3234|Hill 3234]] by its height of 3234 meters, which was assigned to the 9th Company of the 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment led by Colonel Valery Vostrotin.

The 39-man company landed on the hilltop on 7 January 1988, tasked with creating and holding a hilltop strong point from which to observe and control a long section of the road beneath and thus secure it for the safe passage of convoys.

Shortly after landing, the airborne troopers, who were well trained and experienced in Afghan conditions, started to take up positions which covered both the road and the uphill passages. Just as they had dug in, the mujahideen began their attack at 1530 hrs. First they fired with all possible weapons including recoilless guns and RPGs. After a few salvos, Soviet artillery replied and silenced some of the mujahideen's guns, with the commander of the first platoon, Lt. Viktor Gagarin, directing fire via radio. When rebel fire slackened, it was clear that this was the beginning of an infantry assault.

The airborne troopers were attacked by a coordinated and well-armed force of between 200 and 250 mujahideen. Attacks were made from two directions, indicating that the assailants may have been assisted by rebels trained in Pakistan by American agents. During the ensuing battle, the Soviet unit was in constant communication with headquarters and received everything the leadership of 40th Army had to offer in terms of [[artillery]] support, ammunition, reinforcements, and helicopter evacuation of the wounded.<ref>Carey Schofield, ''The Russian Elite'', Greenhill/Stackpole, 1993, pp. 120–125. {{ISBN|1-85367-155-X}}.</ref>

The exhausted and mostly wounded Soviets were nearly out of ammunition but continued to occupy the hill until the last convoy passed through the road below.

The Soviet forces sustained very low casualties, with six men killed and 28 injured out of 39. Two of the soldiers killed, [[Vyacheslav Alexandrovich Alexandrov]] and [[Andrey Alexandrovich Melnikov]], were posthumously awarded the golden star of the [[Hero of the Soviet Union]]. All of the paratroopers in this battle were given the [[Order of the Red Banner]] and [[Order of the Red Star]].<ref name='Oliynik'>[http://www.rsva.ru/biblio/prose_af/afgan-soldiers/5.shtml "Клятва тридцати девяти"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230758/http://www.rsva.ru/biblio/prose_af/afgan-soldiers/5.shtml |date=3 March 2016}} A. Oliynik. ''[[Krasnaya Zvezda]]'', 29 October 1988. {{in lang|ru}}</ref>

According to Soviet estimates, the [[mujahideen]] lost over 200 men.
And Soviets lost 70–200 men . 
The Mujahideen wore black uniforms with rectangular black-yellow-red stripes.<ref name="Oliynik"/><ref>[http://www.rsva.ru/biblio/prose_af/afgan-soldiers/4.shtml "Афганистан: бой у высоты 3234"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175127/http://www.rsva.ru/biblio/prose_af/afgan-soldiers/4.shtml |date=3 March 2016}} D. Meshchaninov {{in lang|ru}}.</ref><ref>''My Jihad: One American's Journey Through the World of Usama Bin Laden—as a Covert Operative for the American Government''. [[Aukai Collins]]. {{ISBN|0-7434-7059-1}}</ref><ref>Carey Schofield, ''The Russian Elite'', Greenhill/Stackpole, 1993, p. 121. {{ISBN|1-85367-155-X}}.</ref>

===After 1991===
[[File:GardezFOB.jpg|thumb|left|U.S. military base next to [[Gardez]] in 2007]]
Immediately after the fall of the [[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan|Taliban government]], Paktia was one of the most chaotic regions in the country, as a small civil war broke out between rival militia commanders for control of the province, and Taliban and [[al-Qaeda]] fighters gave occupying U.S. troops some of their heaviest losses in the cave complexes south of Gardez.<ref>"[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/afghanistan/zadran.htm Pacha Khan Zadran]". [[GlobalSecurity.org]].</ref>

Paktia was the site of heavy fighting between [[Taliban insurgents]] and [[International Security Assistance Force|ISAF]]-backed [[Afghan National Security Forces]]. Paktia was one of the last redoubts of organized Taliban resistance; much of [[Operation Anaconda]] took place in [[Zurmat District|Zurmat]], Paktia's largest district. [[Pacha Khan Zadran]] was appointed provincial governor by [[Hamid Karzai]] in January 2002, but Zadran faced strong local opposition and was prevented from entering Gardez by Haji Saifullah, a local tribal elder who considered Zadran to be a "smuggler", "tyrant" and "killer". Forces loyal to Zadran attacked Gardez several times and were resisted by Saifullah's militia, leading to many people being killed. Zadran was sacked by Karzai after ordering a deadly rocket attack at Gardez in February 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/heavy-fighting-in-southern-afghan-province-threatens-fragile-peace-9156305.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/heavy-fighting-in-southern-afghan-province-threatens-fragile-peace-9156305.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title = Heavy fighting in southern Afghan province threatens fragile peace|website = [[Independent.co.uk]]|date = 27 February 2014}}</ref>

February 2003, the 1st [[Provincial Reconstruction Team]] (PRT) in Gardez commenced with the objective of providing funding for local Afghan projects concurrent to a reinforced security presence in overwatch. The PRT Gardez composition includes a reinforced platoon from the [[504th Infantry Regiment (United States)|504th]] 82nd ABN along with US Army Civil Affairs contingent plus Special Forces. In March 2003, [[USAID]] and State Department representatives joined the 1st Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Gardez.

In September 2006, Governor [[Hakim Taniwal]] was killed by a Taliban suicide bomber as he left his office in Gardez.<ref>"[https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/5331986.stm Nato kills 94 'Taleban fighters']". [[BBC News]] (10 September 2006).</ref> At the time, Taniwal was the highest-ranking post-Taliban official to be killed by insurgent forces in the country.

On 12 February 2010, five civilians including two pregnant women and a teenage girl were killed by U.S. special forces during the [[Khataba raid]]. U.S. special forces were later accused of attempting to cover up the incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/|title=The Times & The Sunday Times|website=The Times|access-date=5 April 2018}}</ref><ref>[http://www.rawa.org/temp/runews/2010/03/14/nato-covered-up-botched-night-raid-in-afghanistan-that-killed-five.html Nato 'covered up' botched night raid in Afghanistan that killed five], ''[[RAWA News]]''. RAWA.org. Retrieved on 12 July 2013.</ref><ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63313M20100404 NATO admits Afghan civilian deaths in night raid]. [[Reuters]]. Retrieved on 12 July 2013.</ref> Head of [[Joint Special Operations Command]], [[William McRaven|U.S. Vice Admiral William McRaven]] stated that the deaths were a "terrible mistake",<ref>{{cite news |title=Special Forces chief begs forgiveness for killing five innocents |author=Staff |publisher=The Scotsman |url=http://news.scotsman.com/world/Special-Forces-chief-begs-forgiveness.6214690.jp |location=Edinburgh |date=9 April 2010}}</ref> offered an apology, accepted responsibility for the deaths and made a traditional Afghan condolence offering of sheep.<ref name=csmmcraven>{{cite journal |title=US military offers sheep in apology for Afghanistan deaths |author= Julius Cavendish |journal=Christian Science Monitor |date= 8 April 2010 |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2010/0408/US-military-offers-sheep-in-apology-for-Afghanistan-deaths}}</ref>

After some early unrest a long period of relative calm followed, despite the occasional high-profile incident such as the 2006 assassination of the governor, by a suicide bomber. There was a rise in violent incidents when the pullout of American troops neared in 2014.

Some regions of Paktia are also believed to be a safe haven for militants from the [[Haqqani network]], an anti-government combat organisation involved in the [[Taliban insurgency]].<ref>[http://www.isaf.nato.int/article/isaf-releases/more-than-20-insurgents-killed-in-haqqani-clearing-operation.html "More than 20 Insurgents Killed in Haqqani Clearing Operation"]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/id/60415/|title=Afghan, Coalition Forces Keep Pressure on Insurgents|website=defense.gov|access-date=5 April 2018}}</ref>

==Healthcare==
{{Further|Health in Afghanistan}}
The percentage of households with clean drinking water increased from 30% in 2005 to 36% in 2011.<ref name="cimicweb.org">Archive, Civil Military Fusion Centre, https://www.cimicweb.org/AfghanistanProvincialMap/Pages/Paktiya.aspx {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531105049/https://www.cimicweb.org/AfghanistanProvincialMap/Pages/Paktiya.aspx |date=31 May 2014 }}</ref>
The percentage of births attended to by a skilled birth attendant fell from 9% in 2005 to 3% in 2011.<ref name="cimicweb.org"/>

==Education==
{{Further|Education in Afghanistan}}
The overall literacy rate (6+ years of age) fell from 35% in 2005 to 27% in 2011.<ref name="cimicweb.org"/>
The overall net enrolment rate (6–13 years of age) fell from 65% in 2005 to 24% in 2011.<ref name="cimicweb.org"/>

==Geography==
{{Further|Geography of Afghanistan}}
[[File:Landscape in Paktia Province.jpg|thumb|Snow-covered mountains in Paktia province]]

Paktia shares a border with the Kurram district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. Within Afghanistan, it borders [[Logar Province]], [[Ghazni Province]], [[Paktika Province]], and [[Khost Province]], in counterclockwise order.

Paktia is a largely mountainous province, with most of the population living in the central valley stretching from [[Ahmadkhel District|Ahmadkhel]] in the east down through [[Zurmat]] and into neighboring [[Paktika province]]. The eastern part of the province, particularly [[Tsamkani District|Tsamkani]] and [[Dand Aw Patan District|Dand Aw Patan]], is a second valley leading into Pakistan.

Jaji (Zazi) and Jani Khel districts are largely mountainous with much smaller inhabited valleys.

The [[Khost-Gardez Pass]] area, to the south of Gardez, is mountainous with settlements limited to the main pass and smaller valleys.

As of 2005, Azra district is no longer a part of Paktya. It has been attached to Logar province to the north, to which it is much more closely connected by roadways and people.{{Clarify|date=January 2010}}

==Demographics==
{{Further|Demographics of Afghanistan}}
[[File:Defense.gov photo essay 090215-D-1852B-008.jpg|thumb|People of Paktia province]]
[[File:US Army ethnolinguistic map of Afghanistan -- circa 2001-09.jpg|thumb|[[Ethnolinguistics|Ethnolinguistic]] [[ethnic groups in Afghanistan|groups in Afghanistan]]]]
[[File:Paktia districts.png|thumb|Districts of Paktia province]]
As of 2021, the total population of the province is 622,831.<ref name=nsia>{{cite web |url=https://www.nsia.gov.af:8080/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Estimated-Population-of-Afghanistan1-1400.pdf |title=Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2021–22 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=April 2021 |website= |publisher=National Statistic and Information Authority (NSIA)|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204559/https://www.nsia.gov.af:8080/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Estimated-Population-of-Afghanistan1-1400.pdf|url-status=live |access-date=21 June 2021 |quote=}}</ref> According to the [[Institute for the Study of War]], "The province is predominantly [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]], with a small [[Tajik people|Tajik]] population."<ref name="understandingwar">{{cite web |url=http://www.understandingwar.org/region/regional-command-east#Paktya |title=Paktiya Province |publisher=Understanding War |access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref> According to the figures below, the ethnic groups of the province are as follows: 91% [[Pashtun]] and 9% [[Tajiks]].<ref name="nps">{{cite web |url=https://nps.edu/web/ccs/paktya |title=Paktia Province |work=Program for Culture & Conflict Studies|publisher=[[Naval Postgraduate School]] |access-date=2023-12-29}}</ref>

===Districts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Districts of Paktia Province
|-
!District
!Population (2022)<ref name=nsia/>
!Area
!Pop.<br />density
!Ethnicity 
!Notes
|-
|[[Ahmad Aba District|Ahmad Aba]] || 31,488 || 364 || 86 || [[Pashtuns]] || Created in 2005 within [[Said Karam District]]; includes the unofficial district Mirzaka
|-
|[[Ahmadkhel District|Ahmadkhel]] || 25,775 || 220 || 117 || [[Pashtuns]] ||
|-
|[[Dand Aw Patan District|Dand Aw Patan]] || 30,027 || 219 || 137 || [[Pashtuns]] ||
|-
|[[Gardez District|Gardez]] || 95,663 || 679 || 141 || 60% [[Pashtun]] and 40% [[Tajiks|Tajik]] || Includes the capital [[Gardez]], which lies at the crossroads of the province's main north–south and east–west roads
|-
|[[Gerda Serai District|Gerda Serai]] || 12,642  || 293 || 43 || [[Pashtuns]] ||
|-
|[[Janikhel District (Paktia)|Janikhel District]] || 39,459 || 353 || 112 || [[Pashtuns]] ||
|-
|[[Laja Mangal District]] || 21,258 || 193 || 110 || [[Pashtuns]] ||
|-
|[[Mirzaka District|Mirzaka]] || 9,698 || 220 || 44 || [[Pashtuns]] ||
|-
|Rohani Baba || 23,018 || 653 || 35 || [[Pashtuns]] ||
|-
|[[Said Karam District|Said Karam]] || 62.975 || 256 || 246 || 95% [[Pashtuns]] and 5% [[Tajiks]] ||Sub-divided in 2005
|-
|[[Shwak District|Shwak]] || 6,245 || 114 || 55 || [[Pashtuns]] ||
|-
|[[Chamkani District|Chamkani]] || 56,465 || 301 || 188 || [[Pashtuns]] || Includes the town of Chamkani (called Share Now), the largest in the eastern half of Paktia and a major gateway to Pakistan
|-
|[[Zadran District|Zadran]] || 27,480 || 263 || 104 || [[Pashtuns]] || Sub-divided in 2005 to create Gerda Serai
|-
|[[Zazi District|Zazi]] (Jaji) || 71,212 || 591 || 120 || 100% [[Pashtuns]] || People fleeing sectarian strife between Shiites and Sunnis in Pakistan occasionally take refuge in Zazi
|-
|[[Zurmat District|Zurmat]] || 98,547 || 747 || 132 || 97% [[Pashtuns]] and 3% [[Tajiks]] || Populous, relatively prosperous agricultural district. Unlike most other districts, Zurmat includes more than one tribal group, making it somewhat more fractious than other districts
|- bgcolor="#d3d3d3"
|'''Paktia'''
|'''611,952'''
|'''5,583'''
|'''110'''
|93.3% [[Pashtuns]], 6.7% [[Tajiks]].{{refn|group=note|Note: "Predominantely" or "dominated" is interpreted as 99%, "majority" as 70%, "mixed" as 1/(number of ethnicities), "minority" as 30% and "few" or "some" as 1%.}}
|
|}
{{reflist|group=note}}

[[Gerda Serai District|Gerda Serai]], [[Ahmadkhel District|Ahmadkhel]], and [[Mirzaka District|Mirzaka]] are unofficial districts.

=== Important geographical features ===
* [[Shah-i-Kot Valley]]
* [[Tera Pass]], the mountain pass linking Paktia with Logar province to the north
* [[Khost-Gardez Pass]] (K-G Pass), the mountain pass linking Paktia with Khost province to the south

==See also==
* [[Provinces of Afghanistan]]
* [[Pakhtas]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Paktia Province}}

* [http://www.nps.edu/Programs/CCS/Paktya.html Paktya Province] by the [[Naval Postgraduate School]]
* [http://www.understandingwar.org/region/regional-command-east#Paktya Paktya Province] by the [[Institute for the Study of War]]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Paktia Province
|North     = [[Logar Province]]
|Northeast = [[Federally Administered Tribal Areas]], Pakistan
|East      = [[Khost Province]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Paktika Province]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Ghazni Province]]
|Northwest = 
}}

{{Provinces of Afghanistan}}
{{Paktia Province}}

{{authority control}}

{{coord|33.6|69.5|type:adm1st_region:AF|display=title}}

[[Category:Paktia Province| ]]
[[Category:Provinces of Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Provinces of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan]]